This was our first project, using only simple lines to create a visually interesting piece.

This was the next assignment, in which we used only lines (but more types) to create an interesting visual composition.

The first foray in to shape, where we had the chance to study what it was that made an artistically interesting shape (which we could use for future projects if we wanted).

This was a project working on repetition using shapes and lines.

I didn't like my first attempt at this project, so I tried another take on the same shape with a modified outlook on the assignment.

Using interesting shapes we were to create a project using three values, black, and white along with representations of three textures found in magazine photographs.

Using non-traditional application methods (I used three leaves) we were to use some color combination method (complimentary, contrasting, etc.) to make a composition. I opted for a complimentary representation of one of the bridge views of Portland, OR from a condo I thought about buying when I first moved back.

This, for me, was the simplest project in any art class at Western Oregon University. All we did was create three complimentary geometric solids, then draw a scale schematic diagram for assembly.

This involved using one material found in nature to create a composition of at least three different curved lines and up to two straight ones. I saw a hobbit door when I started, but ended with this...

Our final project was to use Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign to create a gallery poster that defined a given word using images. We drew numbers to select our word from a list that included choices such as Bricolage, Kitsch, Tautology, Iconoclastic, and, obviously, Panache.

The first of three images in a triptych to create a unified theme from images and text using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. We were allowed to use original or found images for this project, so I opted for found images.

The second of three images in a triptych to create a unified theme from images and text using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. We were allowed to use original or found images for this project, so I opted for found images.

The third of three images in a triptych to create a unified theme from images and text using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. We were allowed to use original or found images for this project, so I opted for found images.

This is the completed triptych for our second project. Most of the class used one large background matte to complete their project, but I decided that my theme would be more accurately presented by creating an offset skeleton matte.

This is the photo of a knot in the wooden counter at a Crush Wine and Spirits that I used as the basis for our first project. It was taken with a Canon DSLR with a 60mm macro lens, then edited in Lightroom to enhance the saturation ever so slightly.

Here is the final project, recreating a texture using text in Adobe Illustrator.

Our instructor had a gallery exhibit on campus called Tilt/Shift that opened on the night of my 40th birthday. It was a really cool colaboration of photography and interactive media.

One of the assignments he gave us was to take a photo approximately every hour that we were awake over the course of a week. Many of the pictures in the gallery were taken during that week.

As I mentioned in my final project, I REALLY like the world through a very close up lens. This was a taster glass of beer at Crush Wine and Spirits taken during the week-long photo project.

Also at Crush, a tasty beer and some Irish nachos during the epic week of photos. This may have even been the same beer that I sampled in the other picture.

Crush and I may have a problem... This is a Boston cocktail, and it was deeee-licious.

This is my bike, locked up outside of my townhouse. I really liked the colors and contrasts that night so I played with a few angles and focal lengths.

Once again, the contrast of the lit black bicycle as opposed to the black of the night with the diffuse street lamp made for an interesting composition in my opinion.

One more combination of my bicycle and neighborhood, focusing more on the neighborhood... All three of these were taken at the same time as I tried to find the right shot for that particular hour.

I posted this photo on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with a caption joking that I am the reason Apple's stock does so well...

Once again, my debilitating love of everything Apple. This was taken as I did my homework at Java Crew during the week-long photography project.

If you don't love donuts (doughnuts?) we can never  truly be friends. This was taken at the campus espresso bar, Cafe Allegro.

Our first out-of-class assignment was to take our phones to three different locations and take about 30 pictures over the course about 30 minutes. We weren't allowed to move more than about one step from our starting spot for each location. This. I took this picture outside of an alley in downtown Salem. This.